SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bradley MLA has called for urgent Cross Border Ministerial action on the dumping of toxic waste following a newspaper report last weekend that Lough Muckno, Lough Ross and the Fane River have all been contaminated by the waste from the illegal laundering of fuel.
Bradley explained, “Since the report on Sunday’s Independent I have been inundated with calls from local residents in communities across South Armagh and indeed the border region calling for urgent action.
“People are deeply alarmed at the report that water samples taken by the Sunday Independent last week showed 8,000 times more chemical pollution than clean drinking water.
“The report in the paper makes it very clear where they believe these toxins are emanating from and who is responsible. Local people are sick, sore and tired of their communities and their areas being used as dumping grounds by those involved in laundering of fuel and want to see strong action taken.
“It is deeply worrying and indeed concerning that this waste is now finding its way into our watercourses and ultimately to water reservoirs. I and my colleagues have long warned that this was going to happen, we have warned that as those cubes of waste are abandoned on the road side some of that waste would end up in reservoirs and our environment, our livestock and now our drinking water supplies.’
The local MLA added, “The steams around South Armagh, North Louth and Monaghan which run into Lough Muckno, Lough Ross and the Fane River eventually end up as drinking water serving tens of thousands of people in this area.
“I want urgent action and indeed urgent assurances that the water is safe and action is being taken to hold those responsible, no matter who they are, to account.”

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